Glossary of terms

Alligator Skin

A reptile hide featuring a wide, boxed print, coming from the Alligator. Alligator skin has long been the most prestigious type of exotic leather. Known for its range of size and clean scales, alligator skin can be used for anything from small leather goods to furniture, and is most commonly found on shoes, belts, handbags and watchstraps.

Anaconda Skins

Anaconda skin was commercialized when the State of California stopped permitting the trade of python skin products. Over time, the fuller body and the larger scale pattern of the anaconda skin relative to python skin, generated a market for them in their own right. Anaconda skin is now commonly used for handbags, men's belts and small leather goods.

Ball

The padded area of the foot between the big toe and the arch of the foot.

Balmorals

Also Known as Oxfords Balmorals (or 'Bals') are typically ankle-high, front-laced shoes, wherein the bottom of the shoe's lacing is sewn to the front of the shoes throat, creating a closed 'V' shape at the bottom of the lacing. When tied, the Balmoral's tongue is completely concealed, except for its tip. It is said that this style received its name and popularity after Prince Albert was seen wearing such a shoe during an extended holiday at the Balmoral castle.

Bicycle Toe

A type of toe characterized by two stitched straight line accents, so named because of their similarity to professional bicycling shoe detailing.

Blucher

A shoe with two side panels or "quarters" which are laced together over the tongue. The lacing is 'open-throat' (not stitched together at the bottom) and allows for more adjustment or 'give' around the instep than 'closed-throat' 'Oxford 'V'-shaped lacing. Also known as Derby or Gibson.

Boot

Any shoe that comes above the ankle. Boots can be formal or casual, and are often quite utilitarian in their design and are associated with certain trades or leisure activites -- such as steel-toe construction boots, or motorcycle boots.

Brogue

Also Known as Wingtips - A 'heavy' balmoral, or oxford-style shoe that flaunts ample 'pinking' (perforations or zig-zag detailing) and 'perforations' in order to accentuate the look of the shoe's seams.

Croc embossed

Covered Heel

Finish

The process by which the final appearance of a shoe is created. The finish can include the application of polish to create a high-gloss finish, or a contrasting polish to create a rub-off finish like "antiquing".

Faux Leather

Man-made, non-animal material, usually polyurethane, used to simulate real leather

Fisherman Sandal

Type of sandal with woven or stitched vertical and horizontal straps, often with a closed toe.

Foxing

A strip of rubber joining the upper and sole of a shoe. Typically found on canvas sneakers.

Gibson

A shoe with two side panels or "quarters" which are laced together over the tongue. The lacing is 'open-throat' (not stitched together at the bottom) and allows for more adjustment or 'give' around the instep than 'closed-throat' 'Oxford' 'V'-shaped lacing. Also known as Derby or Blucher

Gore

An elastic panel stitched into either side of a shoe’s vamp in order to make it more comfortable and easier to put on and take off.

Motorcycle Boot

Mule

Nubuck

A grain leather that has been slightly brushed on the surface to create a very fine velvet-like appearance. A superior brushing technique than that which is used for suede, the texture of Nubuck is finer than suede because the natural grain pattern is left intact.

Patent Leather

Fine grain leather is specially treated with polyurethane to create an exceptionally glossy finish, especially suitable for evening wear. Patent leather can also be used in conjunction with other leather to produce eye catching results.

Penny

A slip on styled shoe with a slit over the instep.

Piping

A decorative, narrow strip of leather that typically follows the seam of a shoe.